Thief found guilty of attacking man, 89

The 89-year-old man was attacked after getting off a bus in Grange Road, Edinburgh

A man who tried to mug his elderly victim after following him off a bus in Edinburgh has been found guilty.

Ian Paterson, 47, was found guilty after a four-day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court of assault to injury with intent to rob on 20 October.

Paterson, from Edinburgh, attacked an 89-year-old man in Grange Road, at the junction with Chalmers Crescent.

He was remanded in custody for background reports. He is due to be sentenced on 20 March.

'Frightening ordeal'

Det Insp Stuart Harkness, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the elderly man, who, thankfully, was not seriously injured, nor was he robbed of any of his belongings.

"Officers conducted various enquiries in the local area to obtain CCTV footage of the man responsible and, thanks to the assistance of the media and public, Paterson was quickly identified.

"His conviction is testament to the robust evidence levied against him and he has been remanded in custody pending sentence.

"Lothian and Borders Police are committed to tackling street crime and various initiatives, including Operation Arable, are ongoing throughout Edinburgh to make our communities safer."